1871 in New Zealand
The following lists events that happened during 1871 in New Zealand.
Incumbents
Regal and viceregal
Government and law
The 1871 election takes place between 14 January and 1 February. The 5th New Zealand Parliament commences.1 February – Māori elections are held for the first time in conjunction with a general election, although the first Māori MPs had been elected in 1868.
- Speaker of the House – After the election Sir Francis Dillon Bell becomes Speaker replacing Sir David Monro who stood down at the end of 1870.
- Premier – William Fox
- Minister of Finance – Julius Vogel
- Chief Justice – Hon Sir George Arney
Main centre leaders
- Mayor of Auckland – Philip Philips
- Mayor of Christchurch – Andrew Duncan followed by James Jameson
- Mayor of Dunedin – Thomas Birch followed by Henry Fish
- Mayor of Wellington – Joseph Dransfield
Events
- 1 February: The Daily Telegraph begins publishing in Napier. It continues until 1999, when it merges with The Hawke's Bay Herald Tribune to form Hawke's Bay Today.
- 5 July: New Zealand's first university, Otago opens its doors. It was absorbed into the University of New Zealand three years later.
- The Westport News begins publication. The newspaper continues to publish Monday-Friday.
Sport
Athletics
The first amateur club is formed, in South Canterbury. Professional athletics is already well established.Horse racing
Major race winners
- New Zealand Cup: Peeress
- New Zealand Derby: Defamation
Rugby union
- 12 May: Founding of the Wellington Rugby club, the second rugby union club in New Zealand.
Shooting
Ballinger Belt: Captain WalesBirths
- 10 January: Hoeroa Tiopira, rugby union player
- 10 March : George William von Zedlitz, professor of languages
- 6 June: Freeman Wright Holmes, jockey, horse driver, trainer and breeder
Deaths
Date unknown
- Helen Ann Wilson, nurse and community leader